Radiant energy hair processing machine



Jam 7, 1969 L. SEAGRAVE RADIANT ENERGY HAIR PROCESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1966 v Z ES 1/5 SZ'AGPAVE United States Patent Office 3,420,247 Patented Jan. 7, 1969 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A radiant energy machine used for optically changing the color of a persons hair is provided with a ring-shaped thermoelectric cooling means for reducing the heating efiect of the radiant energy on the persons head.

Hair processing machines for changing the color of a persons hair by use of radiant energy are known. A solution is applied to the hair and optically changed by means of radiant energy emanating from lamps within the machine. Such machines will bleach or otherwise change the'color of a persons hair in one-tenth the time normally required. The color processing of the hair includes application of commercially available solutions to the hair which are then subjected to the radiant energy which in turn causes the color of the hair to change depending upon the solution applied.

While such machines substantially decrease the time element involved, the lamps generate a substantial amount of heat which is uncomfortable to the person. In accordance with the present invention, a ring-shaped thermoelectric cooling means is supported by the housing of the machine for reducing the heating effect on the persons head. In this regard, cooled air is directed from a plurality of spaced points around the inner periphery of the housing toward the central portion of the hood where the persons head is located.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel thermoelectric cooling means for use in radiant energy hair processing machines for reducing the heating effect of the radiant energy on the persons head.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel thermoelectric cooling means for use in hair processing apparatus.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities' shown.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a radiant energy hair processing machine which incorporates the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 in FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a radiant energy hair processing machine designated generally as 10. The machine includes a housing 12 having a hood 14 open at the bottom end thereof for receiving a persons head. Within the upper part of the housing 12, there are provided radiant energy lamps for optically cooperating with the solution applied to the persons hair.

Below the lamps, the housing 12 is provided with a thermoelectric cooling means for reducing the heating effect of the radiant energy from the lamps on the persons head. Such means includes a plurality of thermoelectric units 16, 18 and 20 within the hood 14. A greater or lesser number of such units may be provided as desired. Each of the units are coupled to a portion of a ring-shaped conduit 22 at spaced points therealong. Fans 24 and 26 blow atmospheric air into the conduit 22. One or more such fans may be utilized as desired.

As shown more clearly in FIGURE 3, the conduit 22 is elliptical with its major axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine 10. One side face of the conduit 22 is provided .with a row of holes 28. A second row of holes 30 may be provided, if desired.

Each of the thermoelectric units 16, 18 and 20 are identical and are supported from the housing 12 in any convenient manner. Hence, only unit 18 will be described in detail.

The thermoelectric unit 18 includes a thermoelectric element 32 of the p-type and element 34 of the n-type of semiconductor material such as bismuth telluride connected together by a cold plate 36 from a good heat conductor such as aluminum. Air flowing through conduit 22 is expo sed to the cold plate 36 and is cooled thereby. Plate 36 is adjacent the outer periphery of the tube 22 since air flowing through a ring-shaped conduit tends to flow along the outer periphery of the path.

Element 32 is connected to another p-type element 38 by means of a heat conductor. Likewise, element 34 is connected to another n-type element 40 by a good heat conductor. Element 38 is connected to the hot side of n-type element 42 by means of plate 44. The cold side of element 42 is connected to the cold side of p-type element 48 by means of plate 46.

The hot side of element 40 is connected to the hot side of p-type element 50 by means of plate 52. The cold side of element 50 is connected to the cold side of n-type element 54 by means of plate 56. Plates connected to the hot sides of elements 48 and 54 are electrically coupled to a source of potential such as battery 58. The hot side of elements 48, 42, 38, 40, 50 and 54 are thermally connected to a heat sink 60 but electrically insulated therefrom. Each of the elements of thermoelectric unit 18 operate in accordance with conventional thermoelectric principles.

One of the units such as unit 20 would be positioned adjacent and above the forehead of the person whereas the units 16 and 18 would be adjacent the persons ears. Air introduced into the ring-shaped conduit 22 by the .fans 24 and 26 follows the outer periphery of the tubular flow path and is cooled by the plates 36. Plates 36 may be fluted if desired. Cooled air is directed in the form of a plurality of streams issuing radially inwardly toward the center of the hood 14 for cooling the persons head without interfering with the effect of the radiant energy on the solution applied to the hair of the person.

The number of thermoelectric elements and the voltage potential of the battery in any of the units described above may be varied as a function of the temperature and volume of air space within the hood 14 and the heat purging efficiency of the thermoelectric elements used.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

It is claimed:

1. In a device for changing the color of a persons hair by radiant energy which includes lamps supported in a housing having a hood open at the bottom for receiving a persons head comprising a thermoelectric cooling means supported by the housing and positioned therein so that it can direct cooled air toward a persons head, said means including a conduit means for directing cooled air from spaced points around the periphery of the housing toward the central portion of the hood, said conduit means includes a ring-shaped conduit having holes at spaced points along its inner peripheral surface, and said thermoelectric cooling means including a cold plate connected to the conduit, said plate being connected to positive and negative type thermoelectric elements of semiconductor material.

2. In a device in accordance with claim 1 including a source of electrical potential supported by said housing, and a heat sink for said elements supported by said housing.

3. In a device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said conduit has two rows of holes along its inner peripheral surface.

4. An article of manufacture for reducing the heating effect on a persons head, comprising a thermoelectric temperature control means, said means including a ringshaped conduit having holes on its inner peripheral surface, means for introducing air into said conduit, and a plurality of thermoelectric units coupled to said conduit at spaced points for changing the temperature of air in the conduit, each unit including a plate connected to an outer peripheral portion of the conduit, said plate being connected to spaced positive and negative thermoelectric elements of semi-conductor material, said elements being coupled to a source of potential.

5. An article of manufacture in accordance with claim 4 wherein said conduit has a height greater than its width.

6. An article of manufacture in accordance with claim 4 wherein three such units are connected to said conduit at spaced points substantially equidistant from each other, said means for introducing air into said conduit including a fan connected to the conduit between adjacent thermoelectric units, each thermoelectric unit including a heat sink.

7. An article of manufacture in accordance with claim 4 wherein said plate is a cold plate for cooling the air in the conduit before it discharges radially inwardly through said holes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,293,803 8/1942 Colburn 34l00 3,004,540 10/1961 Ronzi 132-9 FOREIGN PATENTS 566,408 4/ 1958 Belgium.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

G. E. MCNEILL, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

